KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China will have Cambodia, the Northern Mariana Islands and three-time semifinalist Australia in Group G as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Asian Cup draw was revealed on Tuesday.
A total of 44 participating teams are divided into 10 qualifying groups, six of which will feature four teams, while four groups will include five sides when the qualifiers take place from Oct. 1-9 this year, the Asian football governing body said in a statement following the draw.
Defending champion Japan, who has won the title three times, was drawn in Group A alongside Jordan, Syria, the Philippines and Turkmenistan.
The final stage of the U-17 Asian Cup will be held in Bahrain in 2023. The 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will join Bahrain in the finals, according to the statement.
China won the tournament in 1992 and 2004. ■
